Whether you prefer yours stuffed with onions or peaches, this cafe has a pie for you. The original hook was freshly-made baked goods, namely two kinds of pie—apple, blueberry, strawberry-rhubarb, you name it—available each day. With the menu addition of thin-crust pizza, a bit of an anomaly was born: a welcoming neighborhood coffee shop that encourages lounging with the paper and an espresso...just as it does swinging by with your boys for a couple of large BBQ chicken 'zas.

The surprising thing is that the two worlds get on just fine, in no small part because the neighborhood's spirit is anything but stuffy. Walk in at any given time, and you'll find a bunch of teens in one corner and a few tete-a-tetes in another, interspersed by solo studiers with their eyes trained on the computer. The happy co-existence stems partially from the space itself—an airy rectangle with floor-to-ceiling windows, gold and sage walls peppered with local art, a richly painted ceiling and lots of breathing room.

The signature Humboldt Pie Blend by Intelligentsia keeps the cups filled (bottomless for $2.75), and the remainder of the drink menu steers clear of froo-froo-ness; mochas and chai lattes are about as fancy as it gets. The food offerings, painted on blacked-out windowpanes (a nice touch), include the aforementioned pizzas, at $10.50 for a 12-inch cheese to $19.50 for an 18-inch Veggie Supremo, along with $5.95 sandwiches and paninis. On a recent Sunday, a perfectly iced cake from the neighboring TipsyCake sat on the counter, and the pie of the day was…none. But no worries, as I was assured there would be some tomorrow. And for today? Well, I could always change my preference from blueberry to bell pepper.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Schwartz